Free Nameless by Jessie Keane Page A

pocket.
    ‘You know what?’ he asked.
    ‘What?’
    ‘This still ain’t over.’ And with that, he opened the door and was gone.

19
     
    Life went on at the Windy, and Ruby loved it. After the private booking, her and Vi became close, a double-act; and one night they were leaving the theatre when she spied, among the soldiers on leave and the crush of civilians, a blond head above the others.
    Her heart leapt into her throat. ‘Oh God,’ she said, clutching Vi’s arm.
    ‘What?’ Vi was autographing programmes; she glanced up at Ruby’s face, saw what she was staring at. Vi’s face took on a knowing look. ‘Well, I saw that coming a mile off,’ she said.
    ‘You didn’t.’
    ‘I bloody did. You’ve been mooning around ever since that night. You’ve fallen prey to the Eton wall of charm, that’s what it is.’
    ‘The what? ’
    ‘They’re taught to be charming. They drip charm.’ Vi looked at Ruby’s crestfallen face and added: ‘But I could see he was really taken with you. So go on then.’ She shook her arm loose of Ruby’s grip, shooed her in his direction. ‘Might as well talk to him, now he’s here.’
    He was easing his way through the crowds, coming towards her, that full-beam smile on his face. Other women were looking at him, she noticed.
    ‘Hello,’ he said when he reached her side. ‘How are you?’
    ‘Fine. Thank you.’ Suddenly she felt tongue-tied. Didn’t know what to say or how to act. He was so far above her, so much her social superior, that she felt humbled and inadequate.
    ‘How’s the ankle?’ His smile widened to a grin. ‘No bruises?’
    She shook her head. There had been a bruise, but she had almost welcomed it. If not for that drunken fool, he wouldn’t have spoken to her that night; she had hugged that memory to her, thinking that was all she would ever have, just that one brief encounter. She’d thought she would never see him again. But now he was here, talking to her – so why couldn’t she be like Vi and think of witty things to say?
    Vi was standing yards away, surrounded by a host of admirers, tossing her head, laughing, acting the star. And here was Ruby, tongue-tied and with her head bowed because Cornelius Bray was here with her.
    ‘How about dinner?’ he said.
    Ruby looked up at his face briefly. She had thought he must be joking, teasing her, but she could see he was serious. She looked quickly away, dazzled. She felt like a flighty female Icarus in one of Mr Van Damm’s tableaux, flying too close to the sun and doomed to crash to earth. She felt she’d be burned, blinded, if she looked at him too long. But she wanted to look.
    ‘Dinner?’ he asked again, smiling, when she said nothing.
    Finally Ruby nodded. ‘OK,’ she said.
    ‘Come on. Let’s get a taxi . . .’
    And he tucked her hand over his arm and led her away from the crowds at the stage door. Ruby looked back. Vi was gazing across at her. As their eyes met, Vi gave her a long, knowing wink.

20
     
    1922
    Leroy wasn’t there when Alicia opened up the shop next morning, and she felt a twinge of disappointment. She went through the motions of serving customers. Then she locked up to get home to make Ted’s dinner at one. She came back at two, opened up . . . Still no Leroy.
    Feeling glum, she worked on and was glad when it was time to shut up shop. The kids were at her mum’s today, she didn’t have them to worry about. As she locked the door, Leroy appeared at her side.
    ‘Hiya, sweetness,’ he said with a grin.
    ‘Oh! Hello.’ Alicia pocketed the key and looked at him. He was so exotic, so beautiful. She knew she was staring.
    A silence fell between them.
    ‘You got to get on home right now?’ he asked at last, very softly.
    Alicia glanced at her watch. She didn’t, not really. Ted would be dozing, and he wouldn’t want his tea for at least another hour. ‘Well, I should . . .’ she started.
    ‘Half an hour?’ he asked.
    ‘Half an hour for what?’ asked